The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-17
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY L. cAvAzzA.


cent poems in volume of Songs and Lyrics
which is one of the most exquisite choice
gifts of the Christmas season. 1t is made up
of pure poetry, without touch of prosaic or
common quality. Perhaps it is this very
ideality of her art of verse which sometimes
leads Miss Thomas to neglect comparison of
her work with itself, and to fail in accurate
appraisal of the relative value of her grace
full fancies Yet the slightest of these are
conveyed in a manner so unique, so delicate
and so winning that they can rarely fail to
find favor. Miss Thomas's muse seems
merely an embodied voice. so elusive and
ETHEREAL is her personality. The woods and
fields, and their haunting spirits have told
all their stories to this gentle listener, to
whom Echo herself need not fear to repeat
old Arcadian tales. To this natural wood
land song, Miss Thomas adds sympathy
with classic legends; and in her occasional
upward flights into the regions beyond the
heavier atmosphere below the moon, she
strikes chords, half human, half heavenly,
such as might accompany the smile of the
Blessed Damozel whom Rossetti has painted
leaning oyer the gold bars.
1t is not easy to define ana criticize
poetic gift like that Of Miss Thonas-indi-
vidual, delicate ard impressive within the
limits of its range. She can play airily with
nature, or rise to note of mystic and refined
pantheism, as in her poem Spirit to Spirit.
Far richer aud truer in imagination is the
Christmas Angel, a poem otless than utterly
perfect. Her few love songs are quite pas
sionless; sometimes dainty, after the man
ner of the early English WRISTS; sometimes
in more modern mode. Her virginia. voice
is strongest when she sings of the old fables
in such poems as Alcyone and Apollo the
Shepherd it displays its rare beauty. The
large and unhurried movement, also, of the
verses jus. mentioned, is more favorable to
the development of Miss Thomas's magma
ton than the shorter measure which she fire.
quently employs. for example in The Palmer,
or Frailty's Shield. The too frequent use OF
that metre-and Touchstone in the forest of
Arden seems to have been also of this opin-
ion-is little dangerous to writer of verse.
This may be on account of its easy pace and
a certain pointedness Of accent that can give
fictitious value to phrases which would be
more severely tested by a slower movement
and less frequent recurrence of rhymes.
Among the most beautiful examples OF the
imaginative verse of Miss Thomas, is the
lovely lyric, know Shore without Port ;
an atmosphere of golden mist surrounds the
light shape of the homesick Ganymede !;
while of the sonnets, those upon Music,
Desert or Garden, To One Coming, The
Heart OF Summer. Nilus, and Griefs' Strata
gem are notable for fine imagery and express
sion. Miss Thomas never strains her pure
and flexible soprano nor sings airs to which
it is not adapted, therefore she is heard, dis
tinct and delightful, among stronger and
more dramatic singers. Boston: Houghton,
Miffiin & Co.: Portland: Loring, Short q
Harmony
A very attractive holiday volume is the
collection of Heroic Ballads, which one fam
ces must have been a refreshing task to the
editor of Quiet Enthusiastically popular
as is that anthology of soothing and thought
full verse. These poems of heroism are from
various ces,-Macaulay' Lays of An
cient Rome, Sir Walter Scott's and earlier
ballads; and Mr.. Whittier's noble Barclay
of Try, Browning's How they brought the
Good News, Professor Longfellow's Ride of
Paul Revere, Mr.. Stedman's Cavalry Song
are among the later verse laid under contri-
button to this volume. The Illustrations are
excellent. spirited and well engraved. One
only adverse criticism is to be made upon
this otherwise admirable book. The verses.
5tunewaII Jacksons Way, written by an
anonymous secessionist, should never have
been printed in publication meant for the
reading of honest and loyal citizens of the
United States. The war is over; the rebels
have been beaten, and forgiven, in so far as
they are penitent-but to include in vol
ume of Heroic Ballads a song of the rebel
camps is however Internationally to dis
honor the cause of the Union and the soldiers
who died for it. Ignoring pages 24S to $50,
this book of ballads will remain valuable
and attractive gift for the Christmast and
New Year season. Boston: Roberts Broth
ers; Portland; Loring, Short & HARMONY
Poems and TRANSACTIONS by Lewis Frederic
Starrett prove the author to be possessor OF
fluent and usually correct versifcation,
and capable of writing some lines which
may justly be called poetry. He has much
genuine and vigorous sentiment, and a man
ly and cheerful tone of thought which de.
serves grateful recognition from his readers
The translations show flexible command Of
metres and careful treatment; and are at
times fortunate in their transcription of the
originals. Boston: Rand, Avery q Co.
Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY
Although the holiday time seems rather
devoted to the amusement Of children than to
their instruction, among the books of the
season appears volume on the Education OF
Man, translated by Mr.. w. N. Hailmann
from the German of Froebel patron saint OF
Kindergartens. 1t is also edited by DIR. W.
T. Harris, who includes it in his Internation-
al Education Series. 1t defines the philo-
sophie methods upon which Froebel founded
his system of kindergartens, dealing with
general principles of mental development,
and with special subjects of instruction. The
book is very heavy reading however just
may be its principles; and It leaves the I'M
preston that Froebel, having evolved the
kindergarten system from his inner con
seriousness, proceeded to load the camel with
too much impediment of philosophic luggage.
However, the bright fresh spirits of Ameri-
can kindergartners can choose that which is
available for practical purposes. New
York: d. Appleton & Co.; Portland Lor-
ing, Short g. HARMONY
Ran Away from the Dutch, by M. I. II.
Perelaer, is large volume in holiday guise,
and from its appearance would be taken for
a book of adventures suited for the boys.
Such is by no means the case, and very like
ly was not the intent of its author or transla-
tor 1t is capable, minute and picturesque
description of the Island of Borneo, sup
posed to be seen by party of four desert
ers from a Dutch-Indian garrison. 1t has
the color and force of the report of an eye
witness, and abounds in thrilling situations
and in picturesque descriptions. The GUS
toms of the savages of Borneo are certainly
too revolving and barbarous to render
faithful report of them suitable for juvenile
readers or youths; while the sangfroid Of a
mature reader will not remain undisturbed
by the details Of superstitious, sangninary
rites, and customs of warfare, told with more
than requisite realism by M. Perelaer.
Apart from these points OF good taste, the
work is brilliant and full of information.
The translation is excellent. Mr.. Jackson's
NJ h1aolx and xyhita in the wood